Easy Exclusion Tips for Home Owners

Easy Exclusion Tips for Home Owners

Pests of all sizes enter homes and buildings in pursuit of food, water and shelter—bringing with them a variety of health hazards. For example, rodents transport fleas, lice, and ticks and can also carry diseases such as hantavirus, leptospirosis, and salmonellosis. To prevent problems with overwintering insects, rodents, and other invaders, you will need to employ various methods of exclusion, one of the most important aspects of residential pest management. This preventative tactic involves sealing up areas of your home where pests are likely to enter.

Identify the Gaps

Openings in your home’s exterior are invitations to rodents and pests. By identifying entry points and gaps made where utility lines enter (water, electrical, gas, sewer, and HVAC, etc.), improperly sealed vents and drain pipes, and cracks around doors, windows, and in the foundation, and you will know which areas need to be sealed. To identify the gaps and areas that need attention, conduct a full inspection of all exterior portions of your home. You will need to be meticulous because tiny cracks can allow insects to enter while mice can fit through openings as small as a dime and rats can enter a hole as small as a quarter. Also, look for droppings and chew marks (rats can chew through brick, cement, plastic, wood, aluminum, and lead ) around openings.

Exclusion Methods

After identifying the openings in your home that can permit pest entry, you can take the next steps to prevent pest problems over the long term.

Seal openings:Fill cracks and holes with caulk and expanding foams and use steel fabric mesh on larger openings.

Trim vegatation:Vegetation that comes in contact with your home not only provides an access bridge, it also offers harborage to pests. Prune branches 6 feet from your home and keep a 2 foot vegetation free perimeter around your home, including mulch and fallen leaves.

Seek out the moisture:Standing water attracts a variety of pests, especially rodents. Make sure your gutters are free of debris and that you have no leaks in your outdoor faucets, pipes, or air-conditioning units.

Partner with the Professionals at Truly Nolen Atlanta

You should perform regular annual inspections to ensure your home has not settled and created new gaps or that pests have not created their own new openings. For the best results, you should partner with a pest management company that can provide you with expert advice and solutions. The professionals at Truly Nolen Atlanta are extensively trained to identify signs of an infestation, interpret your home’s pest activity, and outline a unique pest protection plan for your home.